Building a Skincare Routine
I will be the first to admit that I’m pretty clueless when it comes to skincare. Many of the products I’ve used in the past were directly influenced by my mom’s routine, so I’d been familiar with Clinique and Shiseido (which she swears by) growing up, and which I feel incredibly lucky to have had access to. But I’ve also been through my fair share of drugstore fixes some great (hello CeraVe Facial Moisturizer) and some really bad (ahem, Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash) for my skin. That said, I’ve started making an effort to research different products and figure out what I need to build my own skincare routine. It goes without saying that any routine is going to be unique to the individual, so rather than giving you my hard and fast rules, I thought I’d share my experience with building a routine that works for me. I also want to share some new products that I’m excited to be testing out, some products that I’ve been using for a while now, and how I’ve gone about finding and adding different steps to my routine.
Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser
Origins is a brand that I’ve been interested in trying out for a while now. I love that their products are completely plant based, non-toxic and they are committed to low-impact manufacturing. I even found of that they are working towards net zero carbon emission by 2020 and use 100% wind energy for manufacturing. Basically, they are a brand whose ethics are easy to get behind and their products do not disappoint. I decided to try the GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser after looking for something with a gentle exfoliator. This works great and my skin looks a bit brighter after using it. An exfoliating cleanser is something I try to use 2 to 3 times a week. I’ll talk a bit about my daily cleanser later on.
Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Hydrating Mask
While I’m still in the process of trying this out, I did want to include my first impressions. The Drink Up Intensive Overnight Hydrating Mask is something that I’ve heard such great things about and was a major reason I wanted to try Origins in the first place. First off, it smells amazing, like peaches and a sweet avocado flower, if that’s a thing. I would use this for the scent alone because I like it that much. Secondly, in comparison to the overnight mask I’ve used previously (mentioned below) it has a very thin application, which I quite like. The thing I like least about other types of masks is the heaviness and messiness of them and with this, it practically feels like putting on a slightly tackier moisturizer, which makes it really comfortable to wear to sleep. I hope to edit this post with more thoughts after using it for a while longer so check back here later, if you’re interested!
Fresh Creme Ancienne Soft Cream
Fresh is a brand I didn’t know much about before receiving a few samples of their products. I absolutely love the Creme Ancienne Soft Cream moisturizer and was honestly not aware of the hefty price tag attached. This is such a luxuriously thick product but not in a way that feels heavy or sticky. I really love the smell and how soft it leaves my skin.
Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask
This is the product that made me realize that I really love an overnight mask. I definitely have a low maintenance approach to my skincare routine so an overnight mask is the perfect product. I also have pretty dry skin at different times throughout the year and the Black tea Firming Overnight Mask has been my go-to when I need a quick moisture fix. The almost jelly texture of this product leaves a great dewy feeling on my skin on application but dries nicely so I’m not worried about sticky skin going to bed. It’s safe to say I’m obsessed with this product and will definitely be replacing this once it runs out.
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
Another Fresh product I’ve been using for a while is the Soy Face Cleanser, the convenient sample size being perfect for traveling. This one leaves my skin feeling incredibly fresh (see what they did there), which I attribute a lot to the soft cucumber scent. It does feel like a really gentle cleanser and with my combination skin, I find that it evenly cleans the dry and oily areas without irritating either.
Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser
Needless to say, I was very excited about trying of Glossier’s skincare products when I visited the NYC showroom last Fall. At the top of my list was the Milky Jelly Cleanser. There has been so much said about this product and frankly there’s not much I can add. I love the gentleness of it, which is why I think it works so well as an everyday cleanser. It’s strong enough to wash away makeup and leaves a fresh base to apply moisturizers and masks. Glossier is definitely more affordable than other more luxury brands and I think many of the products are just as good.
Glossier Priming Moisturizer
I’ve just about finished my first tube of the Priming Moisturizer and I honestly have mixed reviews. Personally, I think my skin prefers a thicker, cream moisturizer and I’m very interested in trying the Priming Moisturizer Rich which sounds like a heavier version. Coming out of the winter months, my skin has been feeling a bit drier than usual. I’m planning to revisit this again in the summer time when I’m looking for a light moisturizer. Another downside is that there is no SPF in it, and as I mentioned earlier, I am quite lazy when it comes to my skincare. While I know Glossier does a Daily SPF of their own, If I can eliminate another step by using a moisturizer with a built in SPF, then I’m there! I bring this up because one of my favorite drugstore products is the CeraVe Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30, a light and gentle cream perfect for year round!
Glossier Rose Balm Dotcom
Let’s not forget about our lips! Again, so much has been said about the Balm Dotcom and I can attest to those positive reviews. As someone whose not a huge fan of sticky lip balms, and can be quite forgetful about applying it, I do really enjoy every time I use this. I love the subtle rose scent and it does the job of giving my lips a protective moisturizing layer. After spending time cleansing and moisturizing my face, it just seems like the final necessary step for maximum pampering! And of course, it goes everywhere with me day to day.
So there is my review of some standout products in my skincare routine. I hope it was helpful to learn my experience with each product. I didn’t think you find it particularly useful to read set rules for putting together a routine of your own, since they are such personal things. My main advice for building a routine is mostly to try out travel and sample sizes before committing to full size products and to pay attention to your skin type and how it reacts in different environments or climates, times of the year, and other factors. This will hopefully lead you in the direction of the types of products to look for. Much of it will just be trial and error, as was the case for me. I’d love to know if you’ve tried any of these products, your experience with them or if there’s anything else you’re excited about trying or continuing to use. Thanks for reading! xx Jessica